BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr (EB) virus infection stimulates the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which contributes to the progression of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Since serum anti-early antigen EB virus IgG (EBV EA-IgG) titer is a sign of active EB virus infection, EBV EA-IgG titer could be associated with atherosclerosis. The number of minor (T) alleles in VEGF polymorphism rs3025039 has been reported to be inversely associated with serum VEGF concentration, suggesting that rs3025039 might have a strong influence on the association between EBV EA-IgG titer and atherosclerosis. By focusing on the role of VEGF in the development of atherosclerosis, this study aimed to investigate the association between active EB virus infection and atherosclerosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 2,661 older Japanese individuals aged 60-89 years who participated in annual health check-ups during 2017-2019 was conducted. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between EBV EA-IgG titer and atherosclerosis in relation to rs3025039 genotype. The influence of rs3025039 (T) allele carrier status on the association between EBV EA-IgG titer and atherosclerosis was also evaluated by using logistic regression. RESULTS: Among rs3025039 CC-homozygotes, with the lowest EBV EA-IgG titer tertile as the reference, the multivariable odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.11 (0.82, 1.50) for the medium tertile and 1.07 (0.78, 1.47) for the high tertile. Among rs3025039 (T) allele carriers, the corresponding values were 1.44 (0.88, 2.36) and 1.88 (1.15, 3.05), respectively. There was a significant interaction between rs3025039 (T) allele carrier status and the association between EBV EA-IgG titer and atherosclerosis (adjusted p = 0.0497). CONCLUSION EBV EA-IgG titer was significantly positively associated with atherosclerosis only among participants who are genetically less likely to have progressive angiogenesis. An angiogenesis-related genetic factor was revealed as a determinant of the association between EBV EA-IgG titer and atherosclerosis. These findings introduce a novel concept that could explain the association between viral infection and atherosclerosis.
Humans ; Aged ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Atherosclerosis/virology* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics* ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/virology* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Antigens, Viral/immunology* ; Antibodies, Viral/blood* ; Immunoglobulin G/blood* ; Genotype ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVE: To detect the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral load of children after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using chip digital PCR (cdPCR). METHODS: The sensitivity of cdPCR was determined using EBV plasmids and the EBV B95-8 strain. The specificity of EBV cdPCR was evaluated using the EBV B95-8 strain and other herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus 1, herpes simplex virus 2, varicella zoster virus, human cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and human herpesvirus 7). From May 2019 to September 2020, 64 serum samples of children following HSCT were collected. EBV infection and the viral load of serum samples were detected by cdPCR. The epidemiological characteristics of EBV infections were analyzed in HSCT patients. RESULTS: The limit of detection of EBV cdPCR was 110 copies/mL, and the limit of detection of EBV quantitative PCR was 327 copies/mL for the pUC57-BALF5 plasmid. The result of EBV cdPCR was up to 121 copies/mL in the EBV B95-8 strain, and both were more sensitive than that of quantitative PCR. Using cdPCR, the incidence of EBV infection was 18.75% in 64 children after HSCT. The minimum EBV viral load was 140 copies/mL, and the maximum viral load was 3,209 copies/mL using cdPCR. The average hospital stay of children with EBV infection (184 ± 91 days) was longer than that of children without EBV infection (125 ± 79 days), P = 0.026. CONCLUSION EBV cdPCR had good sensitivity and specificity. The incidence of EBV infection was 18.75% in 64 children after HSCT from May 2019 to September 2020. EBV cdPCR could therefore be a novel method to detect EBV viral load in children after HSCT.
Child ; DNA, Viral/analysis* ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/epidemiology* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human/genetics* ; Humans ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Load

China is a country with high incidence of gastric cancer, most of which are advanced gastric cancer, accounting for about half of the new cases in the world. Environmental factors play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori and Epstein Barr virus(EBV) infection have been confirmed as one of the important pathogenic factors of gastric cancer. With the development and application of molecular biology and sequencing technology, molecular typing based on patient genetic characteristics has been proposed to guide accurate treatment and predict prognosis. Surgery is the cornerstone of gastric cancer treatment. Laparoscopy has been developing rapidly in the past 20 years on account of its clinical application advantages such as minimally invasive and magnified visual field and refined anatomy, making it one of the standard treatment options for early gastric cancer, with its indications for the treatment of gastric cancer continuously expanding. The application of endoscopic treatment and reduction surgery for early gastric cancer further improves the quality of life of patients, and surgical treatment of gastric cancer tends to be precise and minimally invasive. The comprehensive treatment of surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy is a standard treatment of local advanced gastric cancer. The exploration of related drugs and treatment models is the current research hotspot, and the development and application of targeted therapy and immunotherapy provide more choices in this field. The treatment of advanced gastric cancer is focused on the exploration of chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Some studies have shown good prospects and provided more opportunities for conversion therapy. This article will share the new developments in the field of gastric cancer research in 2018.
China ; epidemiology ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter pylori ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy

Africa ; epidemiology ; Asia, Southeastern ; epidemiology ; Carcinoma ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; virology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Middle East ; epidemiology ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) occurring in northern China, association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and concordance between EBV protein immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in-situ hybridization (ISH).

METHODSTwo hundred and thirty-five cases were collected and their HE and IHC slides were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and sort of HLs. All cases were performed with IHC staining for LMP-1 protein and ISH of EBV-encoded RNAs (EBER) was done in 101 cases to detect the existence of EBV.

RESULTSThe incidence peak was between age 25 and 35 years, followed by another peak between age 56 to 60 years. There were 135 males and 100 females. The tumor involved lymph nodes in 217 cases, and extranodal sites in 18 cases. There were 3 cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) and 232 cases of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. All tumors were stained for CD30, CD20, CD3. CD30 was expressed in 227 cases (96.6%), CD20 was expressed in 53 cases (22.5%) with different level of intensity. CD3 was expressed only in 1 case (0.4%). CD15 staining was performed in 224 cases and 117 (52.2%) cases were positive. PAX-5 were performed in 213 cases and 160 (75.1%) cases showed weak to moderate expressions. Two hundred and thirty-five cases were immunohistochemically stained with LMP1 and 72 (30.6%) cases were positive. Meanwhile, EBER ISH were applied in 101 cases, and 40 cases (39.6%) were found positive. LMP1 was expressed in 30 cases among those EBER-positive cases, while LMP1 was only detected in 5 cases of the EBER-negative cases. There was no statistically significantce between LMP1 IHC and EBER ISH by pared chi-square test (P = 0.3), the overall concordance rate was 85.2%.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a bimodal age distribution in our group of HL cases from the northern part of China, with slight male predominance and mainly nodal involvement. Nodular sclerosis (NS) and mixed cellularity (MC) were major histologic subtypes. When it was compared with the EBER ISH method in detection EBV infection of HL, the more economical and convenient LMP1 IHC showed both high degree of consistency and overall concordance rate.

Adult ; Age Distribution ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hodgkin Disease ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Sex Distribution

BACKGROUNDNon-Hodgkin lymphoma is the fourth most common malignant tumors in children, Burkitt lymphoma (BL) accounts for 30-50% of all pediatric lymphomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features, immunophenotype, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and c-myc gene rearrangement of sporadic BL in children.

METHODSNinety-two cases of pediatric BL were retrospectively analyzed for clinical features, immunohistochemistry, EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) status by in situ hybridization and c-myc gene rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

RESULTSIn the 92 cases, male is predominant in sex distribution (M: F = 3.38:1). The average age at diagnosis was 4.97 years. Polypoid BL showed a lower clinical stage (P = 0.002), and advanced clinical stage and low serum albumin level at diagnosis were associated with poor outcome (P = 0.024 and 0.053, respectively). The positive expression of CDl0, B-cell lymphoma-6, MUMl and EBER were 95.7% (88 cases), 92.4% (85 cases), 22.8% (21 cases), 41.3% (38 cases), respectively. The expression of MUM1 were not associated with EBV infection status (P = 1.000). c-myc gene rearrangement was detected in 94.6% (87/92). Clinical treatment information for 54 cases was collected, 21 patients died of tumor after surgery alone, 33 patients received surgery and chemotherapy, and of which six patients died shortly afterwords (MUM1 positive expression in 3 cases, P = 0.076).

CONCLUSIONSThe anatomical location, growth pattern and serum albumin level of BL were associated with biological behavior. MUM1 may be a potential adverse prognostic marker, and not associated with EBV infection status.

Adolescent ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Infant ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Male ; Sex Distribution

BACKGROUNDEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) commonly infects the general population and has been associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which has a high incidence in certain regions. This study aimed to address how EBV variations contribute to the risk of NPC.

METHODSUsing logistic regression analysis and based on the sequence variations at EBV-encoded RPMS1, a multi-stage association study was conducted to identify EBV variations associated with NPC risk. A protein degradation assay was performed to characterize the functional relevance of the RPMS1 variations.

RESULTSBased on EBV-encoded RPMS1 variations, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the EBV genome (locus 155391: G>A, named G155391A) was associated with NPC in 157 cases and 319 healthy controls from an NPC endemic region in South China [P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 4.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.71-7.37]. The results were further validated in three independent cohorts from the NPC endemic region (P < 0.001, OR = 5.20, 95% CI 3.18-8.50 in 168 cases vs. 241 controls, and P < 0.001, OR = 5.27, 95% CI 4.06-6.85 in 726 cases vs. 880 controls) and a non-endemic region (P < 0.001, OR = 7.52, 95% CI 3.69-15.32 in 58 cases vs. 612 controls). The combined analysis in 1109 cases and 2052 controls revealed that the SNP G155391A was strongly associated with NPC (P(combined) < 0.001, OR = 5.27, 95% CI 4.31-6.44). Moreover, the frequency of the SNP G155391A was associated with NPC incidence but was not associated with the incidences of other EBV-related malignancies. Furthermore, the protein degradation assay showed that this SNP decreased the degradation of the oncogenic RPMS1 protein.

CONCLUSIONSOur study identified an EBV variation specifically and significantly associated with a high risk of NPC. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of NPC and strategies for prevention.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genome, Viral ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; virology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Pilot Projects ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

This study aims to investigate the genetic characteristics of BZLF1 gene and its promoter Zp of the epidemic strains in children with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated diseases. Total DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 134 children with EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis (EBV-IM) and 32 children with EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) who were admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital from 2006 to 2011. The EBNA3C, BZLF1, and Zp genes were amplified by PCR assay. Typing of EBV was performed according to the size of the amplification product of EBNA3C gene; the amplification products of BZLF1 and Zp genes were subjected to direct sequencing, and sequence analysis was performed using BioEdit 7. 0. 9. The results were as follows: (1) EBV-1 was present in 140 samples (97.2%, 140/144) and EBV-II in 4 samples (2.8%, 4/144). (2) Three BZLF1 genotypes and their 12 subtypes (including 6 newly found subtypes) were detected in this study; there were no significant differences in the frequencies of BZLF1-A and BZLF1-B between the children with EBV-IM and EBV-HLH (P = 0.083); BZLF1-A1 was the dominant genotype in children with EBV-associated diseases; t BZLF1-A mostly had three 29-bp repeats in the first intron of BZLF1 gene, and BZLF1-B mostly had 30-bp repeats (P = 0.000), with the number of repeats varying from 1 to 13. (3) Four Zp genotypes were detected in this study, including Zp-P, Zp-V3, Zp-V4, and Zp-V1; there were no significant differences in the frequencies of these Zp genotypes between children with EBV-IM and EBV-HLH (P = 0.272, 0.252, 1.0, and 1.0, respectively). (4) The linkage analysis of BZLF1 gene and its promoter Zp showed that BZLF1-A1 was highly associated with Zp-V3 (P = 0.000), while BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P (P = 0.000); EBV-I + BZLF1 A1 was highly associated with Zp-V3 (P = 0.000), while EBV-I+BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P (P = 0.000). The conclusions are as follows: (1) BZLF1-A1 is the dominant genotype in children with EBV-associated diseases; there are mostly 29-bp repeats in the first intron of BZLF1 gene for BZLF1-A genotype and 30-bp repeats for BZLF1-B genotype. (2) Zp-P and Zp-V3 are dominant Zp genotypes of EBV in children, which shared similar detection rates. (3) BZLF1-A1 is highly associated with Zp-V3, while BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P; EBV-I+BZLF1-A1 is highly associated with Zp-V3, while EBV-I+BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of human papillomavirus in nasopharyngeal carcinomas of Fujian province in China. METHOD: Samples from 70 patients with NPC and 25 controls. All samples were detected HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) suing GP5+/6+ and MY09/11 primers and genotyped by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and HPV 16/18 E6 and LMP-1 using immunohistochemistry and EBER using in situ hybridization. RESULT: Only 2 cases of 70 patients were showed evidence of HPV DNA by PCR, the 2 HPV positive cases subtype HPV-70 and HPV-18 were genotyped by SPR, both the 2 HPV positive cases are non-keratinizing carcinomas (the HPV-70 positive one is differentiated and the HPV-18 positive one is undifferentiated), both the 2 HPV positive cases do not show any evidence of EBV. Data showed that 57 of 70 NPC detected EBER positive, but only 25 out of 70 NPC samples were detected LMP-1 positive. CONCLUSION Our study showed a low prevalence of human papillomavirus in NPC patients of Fujian province in Southern China, there is no evidence about HPV and EBV co-infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; virology ; Papillomaviridae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Among all head and neck (H&N) cancers, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) represents a distinct entity regarding epidemiology, clinical presentation, biological markers, carcinogenic risk factors, and prognostic factors. NPC is endemic in certain regions of the world, especially in Southeast Asia, and has a poor prognosis. In Indonesia, the recorded mean prevalence is 6.2/100 000, with 13 000 yearly new NPC cases, but otherwise little is documented on NPC in Indonesia. Here, we report on a group of 1121 NPC patients diagnosed and treated at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia between 1996 and 2005. We studied NPC incidence among all H&N cancer cases (n=6000) observed in that period, focusing on age and gender distribution, the ethnic background of patients, and the disease etiology. We also analyzed most prevalent signs and symptoms and staging of NPC patients at first presentation. In this study population, NPC was the most frequent H&N cancer (28.4%), with a male-to-female ratio of 2.4, and was endemic in the Javanese population. Interestingly, NPC appeared to affect patients at a relatively young age (20% juvenile cases) without a bimodal age distribution. Mostly, NPC initiated in the fossa of Rosenmuller and spreaded intracranially or locally as a mass in the head. Occasionally, NPC developed at the submucosal level spreading outside the anatomic limits of the nasopharynx. At presentation, NPC associated with hearing problems, serous otitis media, tinnitus, nasal obstruction, anosmia, bleeding, difficulty in swallowing and dysphonia, and even eye symptoms with diplopia and pain. The initial diagnosis is difficult to make because early signs and symptoms of NPC are not specific to the disease. Early-age Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection combined with frequent exposure to environmental carcinogenic co-factors is suggested to cause NPC development. Undifferentiated NPC is the most frequent histological type and is closely associated with EBV. Expression of the EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1(LMP1) oncogene in biopsy material was compared between NPC patients of <30 years old and those of ≥30 years old, matched for sex and tumor stage. Higher LMP1 expression in patients of <30 years old was observed, which was related to more locoregional progressivity. Increased medical awareness of prevailing early stage signs and symptoms coupled to use of EBV-related diagnostic tumor markers may lead to down-staging and timely treatment to improve survival of patients with this aggressive disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Child ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Indonesia ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; pathology ; virology ; Sex Factors ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Young Adult